The Tower of Truth loomed behind them, its spires vanishing into the mist-choked sky. The forest had shifted again—no longer the same as before. The trees were taller, their trunks twisted like sinews, and the canopy above seemed to pulse with a dull, reddish light. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of moss and something metallic.
Ayla stood at the edge of the clearing, her breath shallow. The ring on her finger pulsed faintly, a reminder of Kael's words: "You came back to me." She clenched her fist, trying to steady herself.
The remaining players had gathered, their faces etched with exhaustion and fear. They had survived the Forest of Illusions, but at a cost. Now, they faced a new challenge.
A chime echoed through the forest, and a message appeared in the air:
"Trial 03: Shadows in the Trees"
Objective: Survive until dawn.
Warning: Hallucinations will intensify. Trust no one. Not even yourself.
The message faded, leaving a heavy silence.
"We need to stick together," someone said. It was Callie, the young girl who had accompanied Ayla through the previous trial. Her eyes were wide, darting from shadow to shadow.
Ayla nodded. "Agreed. We move as a group."
But not everyone concurred. A tall man with a scar across his cheek stepped forward. "Splitting up increases our chances. Smaller groups are harder to target."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.
Ayla hesitated. "Fine. But stay within sight of each other. We regroup at first light."
The players divided into smaller groups, each heading in different directions. Ayla remained with Callie and two others: Marcus, a stoic man with a military bearing, and Lila, a quiet woman who hadn't spoken much since the trials began.
They moved cautiously through the forest, the trees closing in around them. The shadows deepened, and the air grew colder.
As they walked, Ayla began to notice something strange. The others' faces seemed to shift, momentarily resembling people she couldn't quite place. A flicker of familiarity, gone in an instant.
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. The hallucinations were worsening.
Suddenly, a scream pierced the air. They rushed toward the sound, finding one of the other groups huddled around a fallen player. Blood pooled beneath her, a knife clutched in her hand.
"She… she did it herself," one of them stammered. "Said she was dreaming. That none of this was real."
Ayla knelt beside the girl, recognizing her as Sarah, a quiet player who had kept to herself. Her eyes were wide open, a smile frozen on her lips.
"We need to keep moving," Marcus said. "Staying in one place makes us vulnerable."
They continued through the forest, the trees seeming to whisper as they passed. Ayla's mind played tricks on her, the faces of her companions shifting, voices echoing from the shadows.
At one point, she saw Kael standing among the trees, his silver eyes watching her. She blinked, and he was gone.
The night stretched on, each hour feeling like an eternity. They encountered more hallucinations, some benign, others terrifying. Ayla struggled to distinguish reality from illusion, her grip on sanity slipping.
As dawn approached, the forest began to lighten. The hallucinations faded, and the players regrouped at the clearing. Only a handful remained, their faces pale and eyes haunted.
A chime sounded, and a new message appeared:
"Trial 03: Complete."
Survivors: 12.
Proceeding to next phase.
Ayla looked around at the survivors, her heart heavy. The trials were taking their toll, and she feared what lay ahead.
But she knew one thing for certain: she had to keep going. For herself, for the others, and for the truth that awaited at the end of this twisted game.